Lift the Segway battery ban!

[scotty1024]

I understand and fully support the new regulations for older chemistry Li-ion batteries. Frankly they're frightful devices and deserved to be regulated.

The first generation chemistry were literally bombs best employed from the other side of a couple inches of armor plate.

The next generation, the generation that was finally able to be commercialized, were literal fire hazards.

The lithium polymer batteries are safe but they use a plastic electrode so they aren't suitable for high current devices (the plastic electrode has a high internal resistance).

But the battery chemistry employed in the Segway packs is finally back to NiMH levels of sanity with high current delivery. They don't deserve to be banned.

And while the FAA must respect international agreements for international flights, they're free to pass their own regulations for domestic flights. As we've seen: Congress can pull the strings on the FAA pretty quickly.

A little pressure on Congress to change things can also benefit our everyday lives. Instead of crazy chemistry laptop batteries, an exemption for the Segway would help pressure manufacturers to get us phosphate batteries for our everyday devices as well.

[MTOBATTERY]

Lithium polymer batteries have some of the highest amperage outputs of lithium batteries. They will far surpass the Lithium Phosphate that is used in the Segway but they are NOWHERE near safe. Go on some of the R/C boards or google LiPO fires and you will find many people lost houses to them.

NiMH batteries are not banned and can be flown anywhere. Only Lithium batteries are regulated.